Rajah scops owl | |
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Adult O. b. solokensis from Mt. Kerinci, Sumatra. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Strigiformes |
Family: | Strigidae |
Genus: | Otus |
Species: | O. brookii |
Binomial name | |
Otus brookii (Sharpe, 1892) | |
Subspecies | |
O. b. brooki (Sharpe, 1892) Contents |
The Rajah scops owl (Otus brookii) is a species of owl found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The bird is named after James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak. [3] Based on patterns of speciation in other endemic montane bird species of the same region, it may potentially have to be split into two distinct species; if so, the name Otus brookii would be restricted to just the Bornean population. [4]
There are two subspecies known from two different islands: O. b. brookii (the type subspecies) found on Borneo and O. b. solokensis found on Sumatra. [5] Taking into account speciation patterns within Otus and general phylogeographic patterns of montane birds on Borneo and Sumatra, both subspecies likely represent two distinct species; taxonomic studies will be required to confirm or deny this claim. [4]
O. b. solokensis has a comparatively large range, being distributed throughout the length of the Barisan Mountains. In contrast, O. b. brookii was formerly only known to have a comparatively small range in the mountains straddling the border of Kalimantan and Sarawak, with a small extension into Sabah. [1] Due to its secretive nature, it had not been sighted since its description by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1892. In May 2016, an individual was observed and photographed on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu, well away from the range it was formerly assumed to have, marking a new range extension for the subspecies. This was the first sighting of it in over 125 years, and the first-ever photograph of it in the wild. Sightings were again reported in 2021. [4] [6]
Adults have a fierce-looking face. The body overall is dark brown. When perched, the blackish crown and white ear-tufts are visible. Its underparts are brownish with thick black streaking. It has a distinct orange iris. The subspecies Otus brookii solokensis is different in plumage from O. b. brookii in having darker underparts, thicker streaking a less distinct nuchal collar. Juveniles of O. b. brookii remain undescribed. O. b.solokensis has rufous upperparts and vermiculations on the underparts. [7]
O.b.solokensis has an explosive "owh" or "owh-owh" barking call lasting about a half-second and repeated irregularly. [7]
It is uncommon in montane forests above an altitude of 1,100 m (3,600 ft). It can be found perched in the lower canopy. [7]
The Eurasian scops owl, also known as the European scops owl or just scops owl, is a small owl in the typical owl family Strigidae. Its breeding range extends from southern Europe eastwards to southern Siberia and the western Himalayas. It is migratory, wintering in Africa south of the Sahara.
The collared scops owl is an owl which is a resident breeder in south Asia from northern Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Himalayas east to south China, and Taiwan. It is partially migratory, with some birds wintering in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. This species was formerly considered to be included within what is now separated as the Indian scops owl.
Scops owls are typical owls in family Strigidae belonging to the genus Otus and are restricted to the Old World. Otus is the largest genus of owls with 59 species. Scops owls are colored in various brownish hues, sometimes with a lighter underside and/or face, which helps to camouflage them against the bark of trees. Some are polymorphic, occurring in a greyish- and a reddish-brown morph. They are small and agile, with both sexes being compact in size and shape. Female scops owls are usually larger than males.
The Philippine scops owl is a common owl, endemic to the Philippines, belonging to the family of the typical owls Strigidae. Other common names include "Otus Whitehead", "Whitehead scops owl" and "Luzon lowland scops owl". Everett's scops owl and Negros scops owls were formerly considered conspecific but are now classified as separate species.
The Karthala scops owl, also known as the Grand Comore scops owl or Comoro scops owl, is a small scops owl endemic to the island of Grande Comore in the Comoro Islands.
The Anjouan scops owl is an owl endemic to the island of Anjouan in the Comoro Islands.
The African scops owl is a small owl which is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Seychelles scops owl, also known as bare-legged scops owl or syer is a rare scops owl species, which only occurs in the Morne Seychellois National Park on the Seychelles island of Mahé.
The Sunda clouded leopard is a medium-sized wild cat native to Borneo and Sumatra. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2015, as the total effective population probably consists of fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, with a decreasing population trend. On both Sunda Islands, it is threatened by deforestation. It was classified as a separate species, distinct from the clouded leopard in mainland Southeast Asia based on a study in 2006. Its fur is darker with a smaller cloud pattern.
The sandy scops owl, or cinnamon scops owl, is an owl from the family Strigidae found in Africa.
The Javan scops owl is a small species of owl living mainly on western Java's high volcanos; local people refer to the owl as Celepuk Jawa. Like most owls, this nocturnal bird also has a strong ability of silent flight.
The Sunda scops owl is a small brown owl native to the Sunda Islands.
Habitat: The Mindoro scops owl is an owl that is native to the Mindoro island in the Philippines. They live in a terrestrial environment and their main habitat consists of the highly elevated forests with a very small global range Meaning they do not migrate or have movement patterns. The ongoing clearance of forest habitats has slightly affected their habitat. As of October 1, 2016, the Mindoro Scops Owl species has been labeled to be a newly threatened species, or critically endangered species. For instance, the Montane forest has been almost completely cleared out by logging operations, which may pose a threat to this species.
The Mantanani scops owl, is a small owl in the scops-owl genus Otus found on small islands between Borneo and the Philippines. It is listed by the IUCN as "near threatened" because its range is limited with its population being fragmented on several different islands, and its forest habitat is being degraded by ongoing logging and clearance.
The São Tomé scops owl is a species of owl in the true owl family, Strigidae. It is endemic to São Tomé Island, part of São Tomé and Príncipe, in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa.
The Torotoroka scops owl is a subspecies of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the western parts of Madagascar, and was previously regarded as its own species. However, O. madagascariensis and the rainforest scops owl Otus rutilus have now been re-lumped following Fuchs et al. (2007) as the Madagascar scops owl or Malagasy scops owl. Therefore this taxon now becomes a subspecies, Otus rutilus madagascariensis.
The Pemba scops owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to Pemba Island which is part of and off the coast of Tanzania.
The Madagascar scops owl, also known as the Malagasy scops owl or Rainforest scops owl, is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found throughout Madagascar, now that is has recently been lumped with the Torotoroka scops owl, with which it was long considered a separate species from. The nominate O. r. rutilus is referred to as Rainforest scops owl.
The Borneo montane rain forests is an ecoregion on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It includes montane tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, also known as a cloud forests. The ecoregion is partly in East Malaysia and Indonesia (Kalimantan).